I need concrete/masonary help...anyone?

[V]

OK, i finally got my 2 post lift for my garage. but now i need to deal with installing it. My garage floor is probably only 3" or less of common concrete. What i want to do is cut into the floor and basically make a trench to recess the floor bar so i dont have to worry about clearence for my car. the floor bar is about 2" high, a foot wide, and about 11 feet across. so...i need to cut out an area a little bigger than that with 18" squares on each side and about a total of 12" deep. Once its cut/dug out, i'm going to have a concrete truck come and pour high strength concrete in the opening and before it hardens, im going to embed long j hooks and bolts into it to bolt the lift base to when it gets installed.

so i guess now for the point of my post. I need someone who knows about cutting concrete and getting it setup for a new pouring. tools and equipment would be a plus but i may have stuff we could use, or ill rent stuff. I'll even pay for help in person. Ill appreciate any advice/help. Thanks in advance. -Paul

[Savage_Messiah]

I know basically nothing about concrete, but give me a call if you ned an extra hand

[nj85z28]

all you would really need is a lump hammer, a chisel a circular saw and some concrete blades for it...just set the depth to where you want it and cut away. the best way is to use a sponge and a bucket of water to eliminate the dust....im an electrician so alot of times we cut out concrete floors to run conduit, etc for floor boxes

[nj85z28]

oh yea get a hammer drill with a long chisel bit...to get your 12"

[enRo]

Originally Posted by Savage_Messiah

I know basically nothing about concrete, but give me a call if you ned an extra hand

[slasherbarb]

i can make cement shoes...does that count?

[skorpion317]

i can mix up some damn good concrete, and i know how to set it. that's about it though.

[Untamed]

Chalk line, black sharpie marker, steel T-square, circular saw, carbide blades (2-3 because they wear down kinda quick), 8 lb hammer and cold steel chisel, bucket of water and sponge.

Measure the hole then chalk them. You'll need a partner to hold down one end of the line. Make sure your lines are square by using the t-square. Go right over those chalk lines using the black marker. If you try to cut along the chalk line, the chalk will blow away from the saw action. Take your time to make the line as straight as possible - and expect to throw away the marker after because of hte chalk dust on it.

Set the depth of the blade then cut along those lines using the circular saw. At 3 inches, should be easy to do. Once the outline is cut, cross cuts will make the hammer and chisel work much easier. This is why you need more than 2 blades because they wear down kinda quick. If you dont know how to do a plunge cut with a circ blade for the cross cuts, then hammer and chisel a section out first, then do your cuts.

Hammer and chisel out the pieces. At 3 inches deep and with cross cuts it shouldnt be too hard. Below the concrete there is probably mechatum or a rock and sand base. That will either be easy but tiring, removing it by hand with a shovel, or it may require a jack hammer. Your call. Measure the depth as you go along to achieve your 12 inch trench.

I dug a trench in my driveway to reroute the sump pump pipes, and built a concrete patio in my backyard. 12,300 pounds of concrete! Concrete is the bane of my existence!

EDIT: Safety glasses!!! And maybe something to cover your nose and mouth. I imagine a garage floor, usually dry, would be very dusty when cut. Save your eyes and lungs.

[12secondv6]

Contact mafia?

[nj85z28]

yep Untamed is right...he basically gave a detailed version of what i was trying to say...just use some water to control the dust thats the trick. Im sure youll have no problem doing this

[j0n]

Originally Posted by Untamed

Chalk line, black sharpie marker, steel T-square, circular saw, carbide blades (2-3 because they wear down kinda quick), 8 lb hammer and cold steel chisel, bucket of water and sponge.

Measure the hole then chalk them. You'll need a partner to hold down one end of the line. Make sure your lines are square by using the t-square. Go right over those chalk lines using the black marker. If you try to cut along the chalk line, the chalk will blow away from the saw action. Take your time to make the line as straight as possible - and expect to throw away the marker after because of hte chalk dust on it.

Set the depth of the blade then cut along those lines using the circular saw. At 3 inches, should be easy to do. Once the outline is cut, cross cuts will make the hammer and chisel work much easier. This is why you need more than 2 blades because they wear down kinda quick. If you dont know how to do a plunge cut with a circ blade for the cross cuts, then hammer and chisel a section out first, then do your cuts.

Hammer and chisel out the pieces. At 3 inches deep and with cross cuts it shouldnt be too hard. Below the concrete there is probably mechatum or a rock and sand base. That will either be easy but tiring, removing it by hand with a shovel, or it may require a jack hammer. Your call. Measure the depth as you go along to achieve your 12 inch trench.

I dug a trench in my driveway to reroute the sump pump pipes, and built a concrete patio in my backyard. 12,300 pounds of concrete! Concrete is the bane of my existence!

EDIT: Safety glasses!!! And maybe something to cover your nose and mouth. I imagine a garage floor, usually dry, would be very dusty when cut. Save your eyes and lungs.

use every fan you can find/borrow to get the dust out of there...even we down the last garage floor i cut into had so much dust kicked up that i was blowing dust out of my nose for a full day even using a "heavy-duty" dust mask

also for what you're doin i would say rent a concrete saw AND a jackhammer...the jackhammer will make gettin rid of the concrete ALOT easier than puttin away with a hammerdrill for 3 days

[Fozzi58]

Untamed - you must be Italian, or a family member is a mason. I am both so I applaud your instructions


After seeing untamed's message, I really dont have much to add. If you run into problems and you need to curse, use words like "vaffanculo", "chi e da morte!", and "spingalo in su tua culo!!!"

[Untamed]

I've enriched my kids' vocabulary many times over when pouring, floating, and trowling concrete. Especially when my wifes dog jumps into it. Ever washed wet concrete from a dogs paws?

Yep. Concrete is the bane of my existence.

Of course all we've talked about it removing the existing 'crete. Havent mentioned pouring and floating it yet.

[The Fixer]

Originally Posted by Fozzi58

After seeing untamed's message, I really dont have much to add. If you run into problems and you need to curse, use words like "vaffanculo", "chi e da morte!", and "spingalo in su tua culo!!!"

Yes, I heard some of those today from my father-in-law! We're in the middle of rebuilding the front steps on my house. Lots of old concrete and bricks broken today, along with lots of Italian swear words.

Paul, I have one bit of advice. Either rent a mixer, or hire someone to do it. We hand-mixed 4 bags of cement in a large trough with almost one yard of sand. What a biatch!

PS - we still have to meet up so I can pick up the motor from you.

[Untamed]

Yes definately rent a mixer. Home depot rents them in 4 hour intervals. (ie. 4 hours, 1 day, 1.5 days, etc.). So 4 hours = .5 day. As I recall it cost me about $65 for the day. Definately do NOT mix more than 2 bags of crete by hand. You'll be too tired to pour it, and too frustrated to complete the project.

Rent the mixer, buy the 40 pound bags. Easier to lift, open and pour into the mixer than the 80 pound bags.